2003 Toyota Corolla Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while her husband and son were driving at approximately 25 MPH, her husband smelled an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated her husband then heard several abnormal sounds like a soda can being opened. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger’s door air bags inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that her son’s seat belt tightened and was difficult to unbuckle. The contact stated that as soon as her husband exited the vehicle, the passenger’s side frontal air bag deployed. The contact stated that the Police and Fire Department were contacted. A Police report was filed; however, the contact had not been provided the Police report number. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Greeting, on June 7,2025 my Toyota Corolla was repaired at Interstate Toyota for the replacement on the airbag. I have attached documents that share the job was completed successfully. Please review and forward and email that it is verified in your system to my email address. [XXX] Warmly, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I barely bought the car and I looked at the odometer and it’s at 126,000 and I serched and it has more then 300,000 i need help

I AM WRITING WITH CONCERN TO SEE IF THE RECALL ON MY DAUGHTERS 2003 TOYOTA AIR BAG ISSUE WAS TRULY FIXED, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE ACCORDING TO EVERYONE'S OPINION THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF HOWEVER THEY DID NOT. IS THERE ANY WAY TO SEE IF THE RECALL WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE BY THE COMPANY WHO STATES THEY DID THE REPAIR ??

My mother got in the car and as soon as the car was put on drive, the car accelerated to its max potential, but when she attempted to hit the brakes they did not respond. So max acceleration, on its own, and brakes did not work. She ended up in the hospital for 9 days suffering a broken rib, front teeth missing, they had to sew her tongue back together, both cheeks shattered, broken clavicle and she has a hole right under the back of her skull. Miraculously, after she flipped to the side and took out two trees, the third tree flipped her back to right side up, and stopped the vehicle completely.

My car is accelerating when my foot is off of the pedal and when in park, it is revving like I am pressing down on the gas pedal. I put it in reverse to test it to make sure I was experiencing what I just thought had happened. As soon as I put the gear in reverse, and released my foot from the break, the car spead down my driveway. I breaked, put gear in drive, and when I released my foot from the break pedal, again it sped up almost crashing into my house. When I put the car in park, the engine became louder as if I was pressing down on the gas pedal. I checked the pedals below. The rug or nothing else was near the pedal, as can happen at times. This morning I tested it out again on my way to work. It was a repeat of yesterday. The car is speeding up without me putting my foot on the drive pedal, by me simply lifting my foot of of the break. And when I park, it gets loud as if I am pressing on the gas pedal. This is very dangerous and I am afraid to drive my car until I can get it to a mechanic.

My driver side Seat belt sometimes becomes unbuckled, disconnected while driving, specially when I make turns, or when I slow down my driving speed. This is very dangerous because it is putting my life at risk in case of an accident.

Seat belt use to automatically unlocks in mid drive, sometimes over a speed bump, sometimes during a turn, sometimes for no reason at all. Now seat belt won't lock at all.

HI, I AM FROM PUERTO RICO. I HAVE A TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 1.8L, TYPE S. THE TRANSMISSION OF MY CAR IS MANUAL AND IT IS MAKING AN INTERNAL NOISE THAT HAS BEEN INCREASING LITTLE BY LITTLE. THE NOISE IS SIMILAR TO A BALL BEARING WHEN DAMAGED. FOR THE CURRENT PRICE IN THE MARKET, THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED ME TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FOR ANOTHER USED ONE THAT IS IN GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR AND I AM SURPRISED THAT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR IS FAILING. THIS MODEL HAS PRESENT PROBLEMS IN THE TRASMITION? THANKS, LISA HERNANDEZ

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILURE (SAFETY DEFECT) -- 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. EXCERPTS FROM MY E-MAIL TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A. INC. FOLLOW: "THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS RECENTLY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE REAR HUB AXLE BEARINGS DUE TO A HUMMING NOISE, AT A COST OF OVER $1,000.00. THIS RECOMMENDATION HAS FLOORED ME AS THIS TYPE OF REPAIR FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE QUALITY STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NHTSA #10015608) WAS ISSUED." THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER SUBSEQUENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ISSUE ADDRESSED IN MY E-MAIL ABOVE, CREATING CASE # 1703301220. DESPITE TOYOTA HAVING ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #00105 ON THIS VERY MATTER, THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AT THE CUSTOMER CENTER CLEARLY STATED IN A SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALL THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE, NO CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION, AND NO-RECALL ISSUED. AFTER CONTACTING THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, I WAS RELUCTANT TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FOR ALMOST $1,000.00 IF THE ONLY ISSUE WAS WITH HUMMING WHICH BLENDED IN WITH NORMAL ROAD NOISE. BUT THE MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SUBSEQUENTLY WARNED ME THAT FAILURE TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED MEANT I WAS DRIVING A CAR WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WITH A SIGNIFICANT PROBABILITY OF WHEEL FAILURE (I.E. THE BEARING(S) COULD COMPLETELY FAIL AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF THE CAR). I THEN AUTHORIZED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2017 TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS (AT MY EXPENSE). ONE CANNOT BUT WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE OCCURRED WITH TOYOTA COROLLAS FOR DRIVERS WHO UNKNOWINGLY DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES WITH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED OR FAILED.

My car is accelerating when my foot is off of the pedal and when in park, it is revving like I am pressing down on the gas pedal. I put it in reverse to test it to make sure I was experiencing what I just thought had happened. As soon as I put the gear in reverse, and released my foot from the break, the car spead down my driveway. I breaked, put gear in drive, and when I released my foot from the break pedal, again it sped up almost crashing into my house. When I put the car in park, the engine became louder as if I was pressing down on the gas pedal. I checked the pedals below. The rug or nothing else was near the pedal, as can happen at times. This morning I tested it out again on my way to work. It was a repeat of yesterday. The car is speeding up without me putting my foot on the drive pedal, by me simply lifting my foot of of the break. And when I park, it gets loud as if I am pressing on the gas pedal. This is very dangerous and I am afraid to drive my car until I can get it to a mechanic.

I'VE TRIED TO REPORT BOTH ITEMS TO TYSONS TOYOTA IN THE PAST. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS "EXPLODED" IN, ONCE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR. I'M ON MY THIRD WINDOW AND IT RATTLES WHEN THE WINDOW IS PARTIALLY OPEN. I FEAR ANOTHER EXPLOSION. SECOND, THE PAINT ON THIS BLUE CAR HAS RUSTED AND PEELED ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK. WHEN I GOOGLED THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND COLOR, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF 2003-04 CARS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. DESPITE BEING AN OLDER CAR, THERE ARE MANY STILL ON THE ROAD. TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WITH SO MANY OCCURANCES, ONE WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD LOOK INTO THE QUALITY OF BLUE PAINT USED. IT WOULD COST OVER $900 JUST TO HAVE THE ROOF AND TRUNK REPAIRED AND REPAINTED. THE SIDE BACK PANELS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO RUST. I SAW WHERE SEQUOIA WHITE SUVS WERE AFFORDED FREE REPAINTING BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR ISSUE. (IF SOMEONE CAN AFFORD A SEQUOIA, THEY COULD PROBABLY AFFORD TO GET THEIR CARS REPAINTED!)

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact lowered the front passenger’s side window; however, while attempting to raise the window, the window failed to respond. The contact researched online and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V162000 (Visibility). The contact called a local dealer and was informed of the recall; however, the recall had been repaired in 2008, and the VIN was not eligible for a second repair. The contact called the manufacturer and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact was informed that any additional repairs would be out-of-pocket. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

I was driving as usual and suddenly the air bags exploded inside the dash causing damage to the passenger window and the front crystal. Seconds after the drivers airbag also opened and consequently the alarms. I did not impact anything and the car won’t start again.

My mother got in the car and as soon as the car was put on drive, the car accelerated to its max potential, but when she attempted to hit the brakes they did not respond. So max acceleration, on its own, and brakes did not work. She ended up in the hospital for 9 days suffering a broken rib, front teeth missing, they had to sew her tongue back together, both cheeks shattered, broken clavicle and she has a hole right under the back of her skull. Miraculously, after she flipped to the side and took out two trees, the third tree flipped her back to right side up, and stopped the vehicle completely.

I WAS PARKING AT ABOUT 3 MPH, TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOWLY EASE THE CAR TO A STOP AT THE PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE JOLTED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. I HIT A POLE AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED TERRIBLE FRONTEND DAMAGE. I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA AND IT IS OVER 188,000 MILES.

I was driving as usual and suddenly the air bags exploded inside the dash causing damage to the passenger window and the front crystal. Seconds after the drivers airbag also opened and consequently the alarms. I did not impact anything and the car won’t start again.

I barely bought the car and I looked at the odometer and it’s at 126,000 and I serched and it has more then 300,000 i need help

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT POSITION THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACTED INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT DUE TO BEARING FAILURE (INPUT SHAFT). *TT

RECEIVING CODES P0440 AND P0446, VEHICLE HAS 118244 MILES CURRENTLY. BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A SLIGHT SMELL OF FUMES, WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FUEL CAP FIRST PER AUTOPARTS STORE DIAGNOSTICS AND HAD CODES CLEARED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SMELL REAPPEARED. A WEEK LATER REPLACED FUEL FILLER PIPE AND VENT HOSES. SYMPTOMS RETURNED, SAMES CODES REGISTERING. HAD CODES CLEARED BUT LIGHT RETURNS. HAVE READ THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF THE SAME MODELS AND YEAR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR ECM REPLACEMENTS, IF THIS IS THE ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS MYSTERY.

LEAKING GAS TANK DUE TO CORROSION. TANK REPLACED AT A COST OF $1305.81.

OUR COMPLAINT IS WITH A TIRE ON OUR CAR. THE TIRE IS A MIRADA BRAND, SPORT GTX, SIZE IS 195/65R15. DOT NUMBER IS 4UN9 WITH DATE CODE 6AH5111. TIRE IS MANUFACTURED IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE CAR IS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON RIGHT REAR OF CAR WITH NOTHING IN CAR BUT DRIVER AND ONE(1) SUITCASE OF CLOTHES. TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDEWALL AT APPROX.70 MPH ON INTERSTATE HWY. 26 WEST OF COLUMBIA, S.C. ON 7/7/2014. DRIVER HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 2.5 HOURS, ALL ON GOOD DRY AND CLEAN PAVEMENT, NO OBSTACLES WERE ENCOUNTERED TO RUN OVER AND DAMAGE TIRE IN ANY WAY, AND AIR PRESSURE IN TIRE WAS SUFFICIENT. TIRES WERE PURCHASED NEW AND HAD AT TIME OF FAILURE APPROX. 30K MILES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN REST OF TRIP WITH SPARE INSTALLED, WE HAVE FAILED TIRE IN OUR POSSESSION. WE ARE CONCERNED WITH ANY LACK OF OVERSIGHT ON TIRES AND OTHER SAFETY RELATED PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. AS THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF FAILURES LIKE THIS IN THE PAST THAT I AM AWARE OF. TIRE SALES PEOPLE WHERE I PURCHASED THE SET ON OUR CAR HAS SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO PURCHASE THESE TIRES ANY LONGER, SO WE HAD TO ACQUIRE A DIFFERENT BRAND TO REPLACE THE FAILED TIRE. *TR

JUST SAW ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT TIRES, I HAVE A TIRE I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. DIDN'T GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT UNTIL I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TIRES. I KNOW I HADN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG, IT HAPPENED TOO FAST. I'VE BEEN FILLING IT WITH AIR NOT THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT NOW I'VE HEARD OTHERS WITH TIRE ISSUES, I THOUGHT I'D BETTER SUBMIT AN INQUIRY. MAY BE TOO LATE FOR ME BECAUSE I'VE NOT ACTED UNTIL NOW, BUT MAY GIVE ASSISTANCE OR LEND CREDENCE TO OTHERS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE STREET WHEN I GOT HIT BY A CAR TRAVELING OPPOSITE DIRECTION, PERSON HIT NE ON A GREEN LIGHT BUT BESUDES THAT MY SYSPENSION BRAKES AND TIRES NOT SITTING RIGHT, I ALSO I HEAR CHAINS THE CAR DOESNT DRIVE STRAIGHT AND CAR SEEMS LOPSIDED WHEN DRIVEN AND BREAKS SQUEEL

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE REAR SPRING (STRUTS) WERE RUSTED AND VEHICLE WAS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING. *SMD A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE STRUTS WERE NOT COATED, AND THAT WAS USUALLY DONE AT THE FACTORY, WHEN ASSEMBLED. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE STREET WHEN I GOT HIT BY A CAR TRAVELING OPPOSITE DIRECTION, PERSON HIT NE ON A GREEN LIGHT BUT BESUDES THAT MY SYSPENSION BRAKES AND TIRES NOT SITTING RIGHT, I ALSO I HEAR CHAINS THE CAR DOESNT DRIVE STRAIGHT AND CAR SEEMS LOPSIDED WHEN DRIVEN AND BREAKS SQUEEL

THE WHEEL COVERS ON THE 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA COME OFF WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AND FLY INTO OTHER CARS. WE HAVE LOST 3 WHEEL COVERS TO DATE. THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THEY FLY OFF. MANY OTHER TOYOTA CARS WITH WHEEL COVERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WHEEL COVER HAVE FLOWN OFF ON MULTIPLY DATES.

I AM WRITING WITH CONCERN TO SEE IF THE RECALL ON MY DAUGHTERS 2003 TOYOTA AIR BAG ISSUE WAS TRULY FIXED, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE ACCORDING TO EVERYONE'S OPINION THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF HOWEVER THEY DID NOT. IS THERE ANY WAY TO SEE IF THE RECALL WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE BY THE COMPANY WHO STATES THEY DID THE REPAIR ??

AIRBAG LIGHT STILL ON AFTER TOYOTA DEALER REPLACE THE AIRBAG INFLATOR MODULE AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUN 20, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN EVEN THOUGH FORCE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND HE ADDED ADDITIONAL FLUID. THE CONTACT RESUMED WITH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION AND THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA S. THE CONTACT WAS IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 153,000.

CHROME ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IS COMING OFF CREATING A CUT HAZARD. *TR

1. 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE SEATBELT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS INSERTING INTO THE LOCK AT 90K MILES OR MY 6TH YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED IT 2. OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME 3. NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE, CAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER AND AIRBAG RECALL REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR CONDITION WORKED PERFECTLY WELL, PRIOR TO VISITING THE DEALER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED A RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 02/02/16*LJ UPDATED 10/20/2017*CN